While the door on Centre's CPD option has appeared to be almost closed for months, and the opening remains narrow, another door for the college appreared to be opened during the recently-ended Democratic primary battle between Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton.
For the first time in eons, it appeared the battle would continue until Kentucky's late May presidential primary, and I jumped at the chance to use this space to promote an Obama-Clinton debate at Centre.
Well, the battle did continue through the Kentucky primary, but Obama shut the door on a debate a couple of weeks before, saying he had debated enough.
Now, McCain has opened a third door, and here I am again back on my Centre debate soap box. As in the case of my promotion of an Obama-Clinton debate during the primary season, I am again pushing for something that won't cost me a dime or force me to work a minute, except if I were to cover it.
Partying at someone else's house
What I am doing is akin to promoting a party that is being held at someone else's house. I do nothing but invite people while the real hosts have to fix the meal, set the table and do the post-party cleanup.
But Centre officials, including President John Roush and Vice President for College Relations Richard Trollinger have been patient, gracious and even appreciative of my "Hey, presidential candidates, come on down and debate at Centre" promotions.
They are justifiably proud of the college's reputation as a debate host, including the much-acclaimed work it did in the 2000 CPD vice-presidential debate and in the Kentucky gubernatorial verbal duel it hosted last spring.
As Centre officials often say, the college sees itself as a place where important discussions about critical public issues occur.
Thanks to John McCain - and to lesser degree, Obama for agreeing to at least two of the 10 town hall debates proposed by McCain - Centre may yet be able to serve again as the site for an important discussion about critical issues.
If somehow a town hall debate at Centre does occur, I promise Roush and Trollinger that I will do more than promote it or cover it. I will serve as their No. 1 gofer.
Of course, after another column like this, I wouldn't be surprised if they told this would-be gofer to go as "fer" away from Centre as possible.
